Improvement in fire-proof buildings



UNITED STATES PATENT FFIQ.

ELIJAH FOX COOK, OF MILXVAUKEE, VISGONSIN.

IMPROVEMENT IN FIRE-PROOF BUILDINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 152,340, dated June 23,1874; application tiled I February 27, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELIJAH Fox 000K, of the city of Milwaukee and Stateof Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Improvement in theConstruction and Arrangement of Fire-Proof Buildings; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a true and correct description of theconstruction of the same, and the different parts thereof, referencebeing had to the annexed drawings making part and parcel of this myspecification.

The nature of my invention consists in the peculiar construction andarrangement of the posts, beams, ties, girders, and walls, external andinternal, with air-chambers in the external wall; also, in theconstruction of the roof and its appendages, and the stairways withinthe building, the several parts composing the frame-work of thestructure being composed mainly of metallic cast or wrought ironmaterials, as hereinafter described.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to make and construct afire-proof building according to my invention, I will describe the same.

Figure 1, Sheet 1, shows the first story of a building, consisting ofthe metallic framework, of posts, beams, steps, cross-ties, girders,85c. Figs. 2, 3, and at show in detail the connection of cross-pieceswith ties and top plates, girders, &c. Figs. 1 to 9, inclusive, of Sheet2, show the construction and arrangement in detail of posts, ties, &c.Fig. 1, Sheet 3, shows a front view of a building with the externalbrick wall (or stone) surrounding the frame, with the air-spaces in thewall. Fig. 2, Sheet 3, is a vertical crosssection of the same.

A suitable foundation of stone or brick is laid, with suchdivision-walls as may be desired, containing cellars and places forstowage of any articles or merchandise desired, upon the surface ofwhich the superstructure is to be reared. Upon this foundation, where itis desirable to place and adjust the upright posts of the building, areplaced metallic or cast-iron steps or supports, upon which the posts mayrest, of a size equal to the base or bottom part of each post. A centralflange is formed on each step, with spaces cut at the center thereof, orat either end, when required, into which the posts, by their peculiarconstruction, are adjusted, and thus form a strong and firm seat forsuch posts, as maybe seen at a (o a a in the figures contained uponSheets 1 and 2. The posts are in crosssection of the form of the letterH, the central core running the whole, or nearly the whole, length ofsaid posts, as seen at b 0 Z) in figures upon Sheet 2, except that inthe corner posts of said structure the core is upon one side, and flushwith the outer side of such posts. The posts, by their peculiarconstruction, having double flanges on each side thereof, are thus madeto adjust themselves upon the steps referred to, and become firmlyseated upon the steps, upon which they rest, the whole forming a planeand flush surface, as shown in Sheets 1 and 2 of drawings. The cornerposts of said structure are firmly held together at their bottom orlower parts by means of dovetailed connections of cross-ties, with thelugs formed and cast upon such corner posts, as

seen at c in Sheet 2, Fig. 3, the form of construction of the tiereferred to being seen at C, Fig. 1, upon same sheet, thus forming avery strongand rigid connection, and becoming strengthened in proportionto the number of connected buildings. The corner posts, as seen at 1 and2 in Sheet 1, and separately at 1 and 2, Sheet 2, are connected at thetop of the same by means of the cross pieces or beams c and c. The crosspiece or beam 0 has upon each end of its central rib, at an 00, a squarecut or mortise, that is adjusted and fits over and upon the core 00 ofthe corner post, thus connecting and holding together the two connectedposts at the top or upper part thereof. The said post has also formedupon it the dovetail groove and projections, as shown at 8, Sheet 2 ofdrawing. Another beam or cross-tie, corresponding with the one justdescribed, and connected with the same by means of the dovetail key orwedge s, as seen in Sheet 1 ofdrawing, is used to connect the post 2with its opposite post, having a dovetail tenon, or, formed upon eitherend of the same, fitting into a corresponding cut or mortise in top ofsaid posts, so that when the key or wedge is adjusted in position shown,the whole structure is thus held firmly together. The intervening postsbetween the corner posts referred to are also held in position and kepttogether by means of similar cross ties or beams, with omission only ofthe'key-orwedge above referred to, the mode of locking the same being bymeans of the dovetail form of the tenon or rib upon the same, with itscorresponding mortise upon the posts so connected as aforesaid. Thepeculiar shape of the posts, having double flanges formed upon each sideof the core thereof, is for the purpose of receiving within suchflanges, and running from one post to the adjacent one, strips of woodor boards at of any suitable width, being preferably of hard wood, andupon which tile can be secured, in any proper manner, as shown in Fig.2, Sheet 3 of drawings, to render the same impervious to fire from theinside of said structure. The cross beams or ties heretofore referredto, viz., 0" and 0', are also constructed like the posts, with doubleflanges each side of the core or central part of such beam or tie; andinorder to furnish a support to the ceiling of the building, I construct across-piece, D, of metal, cast or wrought, with projections d near theend thereof, so that the projections at either end of the piece D,beyond (I, may fit in and be adjusted between the flanges of the crossbeams or ties, 0 and 0', as shown in Fi 3, Sheet 1 of drawings. Withinthe space formed between the sides of the cross-piece D and theprojections d thereof, I insert a piece of hard wood, to which theceiling may be fastened in any suitable way, and upon this is alsosecured tiles, or other incombustible material that tends to make thestructure fire-proof. d, Fig. 3, Sheet 1, represents the ceiling, towhich such tile may be secured. The method employed to sustain andconnect this structure together, longitudinally, is by means of beams orplates, constructed as shown in Sheet 1 of drawings, and lettered,respectively, E and F. The beam E, made of metal, may be in one piece;or when, on account of the length, this is deemed inadvisable, may be intwo or more pieces, connected by dovetailed joints, as seen as 6, Sheet4. This beam is cast hollow, and the space filled with wood, upon whichthe floorin g may be placed, and the latter covered by tiles, similar tothe walls and ceilings hereinbefore described. The under side of saidbeam has spaces formed upon it that will fit over the cross-ties c c,and lips formed upon the ends of the same, to fit into the spaces y, cutout of the front and rear crossties c, as seen in Sheets 1 and2 of saiddrawings. The plate F is, upon its lower side, constructed to rest uponthe cross-ties, having projecting ribs formed upon the under sidethereof, as seen at f fin Sheet 1 of drawings, which embrace thecross-ties c 0, as seen in Sheet 1 of drawings. Lugs or projections e c,&c., are formed upon the side of the beam E, with a groove or dovetailwithin them, into which are inserted the floor-joist e c, that connectwith the opposite beam, as seen in Sheet 1. Upon the top or upperportion of the crossties c c, and of the connectingpl ates F,projections or, lugs are formed as seen at M 1', Sheets 1 and 2. Theseareemployed in such a manner as to receive steps Gr, having acorresponding depression, 1', of the form of the lugs or projections t2', upon which steps the posts forming the second story of the structureare adjusted, in a similar manner to the posts in the first storyhitherto described. This step is seen at G, Sheet 2 of drawing, thebottom side being uppermost, in order. to show the depression 01. Postsof similar construction to those hereinbefore described can be arrangedin such a manner and at such distances apart as to allow for thenecessary spaces for doors and windows of the structure, the objectbeing to use metallic substances throughout the whole building,presenting such a surface that will not be affected, or will be theleast afl'ected, by fire.

The division and form of the several apartments and stories of thebuilding can be varied to suit the taste and convenience of the builder,and doors, blinds, 850., for these structures can be made of metal, andlined with plaster or other incombustible material.

The whole metallic structure is surrounded by a stone or brick wall,containing within it vertical and horizontal air-passages, (that may befed by openings in such walls,) as seen at 0 0 and 0 0,'Sheet 3 ofdrawings. The roof of said structure may be flat or point-ed, asdesired, and constructed in such a way that a layer of wood isinterposed between metallic plates, and the outer or weather surfacecovered with tile, secured to such roof in any convenient manner.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is--- 1. The within-described mode or method of connecting and securingthe metallic posts, both at the top and bottom of the same, by means ofthe ties 0, when constructed, fitted, and adj usted to and within lugs aa, formed upon the bottom of said posts, and the top ties c 0 0'connecting and securing said posts at their upper ends, in the mannerand for the purpose herein set forth.

2. The combination of the cross-ties c 0 and posts 1 2 3 3, constructedand arranged as herein described, with the dovetail wedge or connection8, in the manner and for the purpose herein described.

3. The posts 1 2 3, combined with the steps a, in the manner and for thepurpose herein described.

4. The upper cross-ties 0 0, having formed upon them the lugs orproject-ions z, in the manner and for the purpose herein described.

5. The combination of the beam E, constructed as herein described, withthe metallic posts 2 3'2 and cross-ties c 0' c", in the manner and forthe purpose herein set forth.

6. The ceiling-supports D, construced as described, and combined withthe cross-ties c 0', for the purposes herein set forth.

7. The metallic plate F, with the projecting ribs or flanges f, whenconstructed and arthe metallic frame-work of the building, when the sameis constructed and arranged in the manner and for the purpose hereindescribed.

10. The steps G, Sheet 2, with depressions 1" formed upon the under sideof same, when combined with the cross ties '01 plates, upon which areformed the lugs or projections i, in the manner and for the purposeherein described.

E. FOX COOK.

Witnesses:

HENRY RUGGABER, FRED HOLZ.

